Floor polisher attachment



, Feb. 4, 1958 E. J. KASPER 2,321,733

FLOOR POLISHER ATTACHMENT Filed April 15, 1954 INVENTOR. EI/mereLKZ mper ATTog vEYs United tes Patent FLOOR POLISHER ATTACHMENT Elmer J. Kasper, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Royal Appliance Mfg. Co., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 13, 1954, Serial No. 422,816

3 Claims. (Cl. 15-246) This invention relates to a device for polishing floors.

More particularly it pertains to a floor polisher attachment for use with a suction cleaner or with suction cleaner attachments.

Various types of floor polishers have been suggested and used with the nozzle of a suction cleaner. Most of these have been relatively complicated and expensive. Many prior floor polisher attachments of which I am aware have included certain means for fastening the attachment to a cleaner suction nozzle, such as spring clips, set screws and the like, which means require manipulation for attachment and detachment.

1 Obviously such prior floor polishers require a nozzle having a specific construction providing co-operating means for engaging the particular polisher fastening means on the nozzle.

- a When wax is applied to a floor surface and it is desired to polish the waxed floor surface, the best polishing effect may be obtained if the wax is dry during the polishing operation or is dried as the polishing progresses. Prior floor polisher attachments for suction cleaners held by a cleaner nozzle usually have functioned only as a wax applicator for rubbing the waxed surface without making use of air currents that can be induced by operation of the cleaner for drying the wax.

, Moreover, in the use of prior floor polisher attachments for suction cleaners, it has been diflicult to properly manipulate the polishing attachment in confined or restricted spaces such as at floor surfaces in a corner of a room.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a floor polisher attachment which is neither complex nor expensive.

. It is also a general object to provide a floor polisher that is adapted for use with a suction cleaner nozzle or with the nozzle of a cleaning tool attachment therefor, as well as with various suction nozzles by varying the size of the floor polisher or certain parts thereof.

. Another object is to provide a floor polisher that is used with a suction nozzle without requiring any fastening means whatsoever.

Another object of the invention is theprovision of a suction cleaner floor polisher attachment that facilitates the drying of waxed surfaces while the polisher is moved back and forth over the waxed surfaces by utilizing air currents induced by operation of the cleaner during polishing to draw swiftly moving air currents across the waxed surface under and adjacent to the polisher attachment as the polisher attachment is being manipulated.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floor polisher attachment construction for the nozzle of a suction cleaner including a pad that may be moved or shifted laterally with respect to the nozzle in either direction by manipulation of the nozzle so as to project the pad to a restricted or confined area such as at a floor corner, to perform the drying and polishing operation 'on a waxed surface at such restricted area.

. -A-diirtthe'r objectis to providean extremely simple and encedwith pribrflobi-pdlishbrsr of tabs 14 integral therewith which are attached to the" "ice These and other objects are attained by the improvements comprising the present invention, which consists broadly in providing a polishing pad having a plurality of aligned apertures along the longitudinal axis thereof, with a metal rib attached to one surface of the pad having a channel portion spaced from and disposed over the aligned aperture, which rib is adapted for easy fitting into the mouth of a suction nozzle, whereby the polishing pad may be moved back and forth over a floor surface by manipulation of the nozzle as well as being moved laterally with respect to the nozzle when it is necessary to place the pad into spaces too small for the nozzle.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing which is illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool attachment for a suction cleaner, showing the improved floor polisher in position for use with the suction nozzle thereof;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the improved floor polisher;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the improved floor polisher;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line 4-4, Fig. l, showing the manner in which the floor polisher is mounted within the mouth of the nozzle of a cleaning tool attachment;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing the manner in which the floor polisher may be shifted laterally with respect to the cleaning tool attachment; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

In the several views of the drawing, the improved floor polisher, generally indicated at 1, is shown attached to a nozzle 2 of a suction cleaning attachment for a suction cleaner, it being understood that the polisher 1 is similarly applicable to the suction head or nozzle of a suction cleaner.

The cleaning tool indicated in Fig. 1 may include the usual nozzle 2 having a tubular conduit 3 detachably connected to the nozzle at one end and connected at the other end to a flexible hose 4 leading to a source of suction in the usual manner. The nozzle 2 may also include a tubular portion 5 (Fig. 4) to which the conduit- 3 is attached by a telescopic fit or swivel joint. Moreover, the nozzle 2 includes a flared portion or mouth 6 having outturned lips 7 which provides a working surface for the nozzle. As shown by the dotted line 6a in Fig. 5, the flared portion 6 tapers to each side of the tubular portion 5 extending to opposite end walls. In the walls are aligned grooves 8 communicating with the interior of the mouth 6.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the improved floor polisher 1 is shown in greater detail as including an elongated polishing pad 9 which may be composed of felt, and a rib or adapter 10.

The polishing pad 9 is substantially a rectangular member preferably having rounded ends. In each end is disposed a V-notch 11, the apex of which is preferably disposed on the longitudinal axis of the pad 9. A plurality of apertures 12 are disposed in a line extending between the notches 11. One surface of the pad is adapted for contact with the surface of a fioor to be polished and the opposite surface is adapted to confront the mouth 6 of the nozzle 2.

The rib or adapter 10 is an upright member extending over the greater part of the length of the pad 9. It includes a flange 13 coextensive therewith and adjacent the surface of the pad 9. The flange 13 has a number Patented Feb. 4, 1958- a r r pad 9. Moreover,=..the rib-10 includes a channel portion A licoextensive. therewith,-as..shown in..Figs.. 2,3, .4 and. 6. The channel portion 15 is spaced from the surface of the pad 9 and is aligned with" and disposed over the aperturesa125in1the pads: vThe..open sideiof= the; channel portion 15. faces the-.xpad: 9.1-1 Finally; .the; channel: portion 15tis slightlyitapered from-its center .toreach :extremitya(I- .i'g..3 for-'a purpose torbe2described hereinbelow.--.

The. floorilpolisherl is adaptedfor. use in combination withia nozzlenattachmentofia suction cleanerw .The mana:

ner'in which the ipolisher l is disposed'within. the nozzle 2 is generally indicated. in Figs. 4-6. The polishingpad 1 lacks means for fastening .the same to the'suction :nozzlev 2 for several reasons. The rib-10 extendstusufliciently far into'the nozzle to:enablerthe normal backand forthmovemcnts of the-pad overrthefloon without' the nozzle slipping offthe pad. In addition, the suction created in the nozzle 2 tends to hold the padin place- Indeed, with some suction cleaners the suction may;be sufi"1cient to permit lifting the padfrom the flo'or when desirable in orderto move it over or. around a rug or piece of furniture.

As shown in the drawing, the height of the rib 10' is such that when the inner wall of the flared portion 6a of the mouth 6 contacts the top of the rib, the lips 7 extend to the top surface ofthe pad: 1. With this construction, most of the air currents enter the mouth 6 of the nozzle through. apertures 12' of the pad. The air currents complete the-drying of thewaxed surface as the pad is moved over the floor. Some air is drawn-into the nozzle 2 through'serrationsthat may be provided in thelips 7 and also into-the" ends of the nozzle and through the loose fit between the nozzle and U-shaped'stamping 10. Thus, some air moves over thetop of pad 9 in addition to the bulk of the air which passes under the pad 9 through apertures 12.

The polisher 1 is slidably disposedwithin the nozzle 2 so that it can be shifted laterally within limits. The shifting action takes place between the upper surfaces of therib 10 andthe tapered flared portion 6 as shown in Fig. 5. The taper at the topof the channel portion 15 facilitates the shifting movement and the aligned grooves 8 in the end walls of the nozzle permit movement of the rib 10 through the end walls (Fig. In this manner it is possible to move-one end of the pad 9 into corners, such as along the baseboard of a floor, or underobjects having overhanging edges too close to the floor forinsertion of the nozzle as Well as thepad.

The improved floor polisher-1 is conveniently used with the nozzle of a suction cleaner or the nozzle of a cleaning attachment therefor, simply by lowering the mouth of the nozzle upon the floor polisher 1 so that the rib 10 extends withinthe mouth; The cleaner'then may be operated and the pad-9 moved back and forth over the floor surface to be polished by manipulating the handle or tubular conduit 3 of the cleaner as the case may be. Upon completion-ofthe polishing operation, the polisher 1 may be lifted from the floor before turning on the cleaner thereby avoiding the necessity'of bending over to reach the polisher'on the-floor if the particular cleaner creates sufficient suction.

Accordingly, this invention provides a floor polisher attachment for a suctioncleaner'that permits drying of the wax-as well as lateral shifting of the attachment to facilitate corner polishing and drying. Notwithstanding these features the attachment is simple in design, inexpensive in construction, and overcomes the prior art difficulties, satisfies the objects and obtains the new results described.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are. to be implied therefrom be-. yond the. requirements ofthe prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes-herein and are intended. to be, broadly; construed.

i Moreoverfthe embodiment of the improved construction, .illustratedand described .hereinmis .by. way. of. ex-. ample, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details "of construction illustrated or described.

Having now described .the..features, discoveries and principles of invention, the characteristics of the new floor polishe'nxandt the 1advantageous',.new and. useful results provided; the new and useful discoveries,principles, parts, elements," combinations,,subcombinations, structures and arrangements, and mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the-appended claims.

I claim:

1. A floor polisher attachment for a suction cleaner nozzle having a downwardly opening elongated mouth provided with aligned;grooves in the-bottom ofeach'end wall, the attachment. including a an' elongated" felt polishing. pad, an elongated.ribsecuredztocand projecting from one side of the pad, the rib extending longitudinally centrally of theelongated pad throughout the greater portion of the:length =of .the pad,.the' pad having a plurality of apertures disposedalong :the longitudinal axis thereof, thelrib havinga generally U shaped'transverse cross section forming-anelongated inverted channelwhich opens" toward the. aperturesyone of the U-legs being spaced from thepad,'and the'upper wall of the rib'between the legs thereof tapering downward outward from the center of the rib to the-extremities thereof to permitushifting of the attachment laterally of the nozzle and'the end. wall grooves when the rib is disposed'within the mouth of a suction cleaner.

2. A floor polisherattachment for a suction cleaner nozzle having-"a downwardly opening elongated mouth provided with-aligned grooves 'in the bottom of each end wall, the' attachmentincluding an-elongated felt polishing pad'havingrounded ends with 'a V-notch in each end and having-ta plurality of apertures disposed-along the longitudinal axis of the pad andnin alignment with the "V- notches, an" elongated metal rib 'secured to-and projecting from one side of the'pad,-the:rib extending longitudinally centrally of the elongated pad through the greater portion of the length of the pad; the rib havinga generally- U-shaped transverse cross section forming an elongated inverted channel which opens toward the apertures, the rib also having a flange adjacent the upper side of the pad, the flange having a plurality of tabs secured to the pad, and the upper wall of the rib between the legs thereof tapering downward outward from the center of the rib to the extremities thereof to permit shifting of the at-' tachmentlaterally of the nozzle and the end wall grooves when the rib'is disposed within the mouth of a suction cleaner nozzle.

3. A floor polisher attachment fora suction cleaner nozzle having a downwardly opening elongated mouth with front and rear lips and with aligned grooves in the bottom of each end wall, said floor polisher attachment including an elongated-pad,-an elongated rib secured to and projecting from one'side ofthe pad, the rib extending. longitudinally centrally ofthe'pad'throughout the greater portion of the length thereof; the rib having a generally. tJ-shaped transverse cross section forming an elongated inverted channel which opens toward the pad, one of the U-legs being spaced from the pad, the other U-leg being adapted to be disposed in themonth of and to be in contact with the rear lipof a suction cleaner nozzle,.and the upper wall of the rib between the legs tapering downward from the center of the'rib to'the opposite extremities thereof to permit shifting of the attachment with respect to the nozzle when the rib is disposed within the mouth of the nozzle,,and the tapered portion of the rib permitting the-ribto .ententhe nozzle end, wall grooves duringsuch shifting References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Moyer Apr. 29, 1941 6 Dow et a1. Nov. 17, 1942 Patterson May 23, 1944 MacFarland Apr. 22, 1952 Nicoli Sept. 29, 1953 Palma Aug. 3, 1954 Trindl Jan. 11, 1955 Van Esley Apr. 24, 1956 

